Jet propelled toy vehicle



Feb. 19, 1957 YUKIO YAMAUCHI JET PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1955 INVEN TOR. Yuxlo YAMAucm gwtfl Feb. 19, 1957 YUKlO YAMAUCHI JET PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1955 IN VEN TOR. Yuwo YAMAUCHI JET PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE Yukio Yamauchi, Los Angeles, Calif. Application October 18, 1955, Serial No. 541,166 Claims. (CI. 46-99) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toys and toy vehicles.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved toy jet racing vehicle which will propel itself in the manner of a jet and which will simulate the action and sound of such a machine.

As :a further object, the present invention proposes forming the toy jet racing vehicle with a light hollow body having a front balloon neck opening, an inner top flat surface for pressing the neck of a balloon against to keep the balloon from deflating, and a blow nozzle mounted in the rear end of the body for securing the mouth of a balloon thereto for inflating the balloon through the'nozzle and for the balloon to deflate through the nozzle.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing the blow nozzle with a free sounding wheel turbine rotatably mounted in the nozzle for rotation by air from the balloon passing through the nozzle to create a sound while the vehicle is being moved by the air stream of the deflating balloon, simulating a jet engine sound.

Another object of the invention proposes forming the vehicle with swo spaced axles and pivotally mounting on the front axle a lever having a free end resting on top of the rear axle and a balloon neck squeezing portion positioned so as to move toward the inner top fiat surface of the body, and a balloon neck extending thereacross when the lever is pivoted.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a toy jet racing vehicle in motion constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the balloon in fully inflated position and held in such position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the balloon held in inflated position.

The toy jet racing vehicle, in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, has a hollow body 15 in the form of a racing car.

Body 15 preferably is of lightweight material such as thermoplastic, Celluloid, light metal, or the like. The body 15 has front and rear ends 16 and 17, top portion 18 and side portions 19 and 2! Inside the body 15 there is an inner flat surface 21 on the top portion 18 adjacent to and spaced from the rear end 17. Above the surface 21 is a cockpit 22 with a weighted racing driver 23 mounted over the flat surface 21 as a backing for such surface.

Top portion 18 of the hollow body 15 has a balloon neck opening 24 which appears to be at the rear of the bonnet or hood of the racing car. A blow nozzle 25, pref- United States Patent 0 erably of plastic of light metal material, is mounted in the rear end 17 of the body extending from the rear end as the tail pipe on a jet and simulating such structure. The blow nozzle also extends through an opening in the rear end into the hollow body 15.

An inflatable balloon 26 has a neck portion 27 which removably extends through the neck opening 24 in the top portion 18 of body 15 for the balloon to be disposed principally outside the body and above the front portion of the top portion 18 of body 15. The neck portion or neck 27 of the balloon 26 also extends across the inner flat surface 21 on top portion 18 of body 15 and the balloon has a mouth 28 which is removably and frictionally secured to the blow nozzle 25 inside the body 15 as by stretching the mouth over the inner end 29 of the blow nozzle. The balloon 26 is inflated through the blow nozzle 25 and deflates through the nozzle, the air passing out the outer end 30 of the tubular hollow blow nozzle in a jet stream.

t A free turbine sounding wheel 31 is rotatably mounted in the blow nozzle 25 for rotation by air passing through the nozzle from the balloon to simulate a jet engine sound while the balloon is deflating.

Mounted on the body 15 are a pair of spaced axles 32 and 33, the axle 32 being adjacent the front end of the body and axle 33 adjacent the rear end of the body. Spaced wheels 34 are mounted on the axles. The axles may either be fixed and the wheels free to rotateor the axles may be freely and rotatably mounted on the body with the wheels fixed to the ends of the axles either outside or inside the body.

To operate the jet racing car, the balloon is inflated by mouth or otherwise through the blow nozzle 25. The neck 27 of the balloon is then pressed or squeezed against the inner fiat surface 21 on the top portion 18 of the body of the car inside the car as shown in Fig. 2. The car can then be carried and moved to any operating surface without air escaping from the balloon. When the neck of the balloon is released and the car set on its Wheels on a flat or other operating surface, the jet stream of air through and from the blow nozzle by the deflating balloon will propel the car in a forward direction at high speed and simultaneously will rotate the turbine sounding wheel to create a jet sound like that of a jet engine.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is characterized by the provision of a lightweight hollow body 40 having front and rear ends 41 and 42, top and side portions 43, 44 and 45, and an inner flat surface 46 inside the body and on the top portion 43 adjacent to and spaced from the rear end 42. The body 40 has a cockpit 47 over the inner fiat surface 46 with a weighted racing drive 48 disposed in the cockpit and backing up the surface 46. Body 40 also has a balloon neck opening 49 in the top portion 43 in front of the cockpit and a tubular hollow lightweight blow nozzle 50 is mounted in the rear end 42 of the body extending through and out like the tail pipe of a jet.

An inflatable balloon 51 has a neck 52 extending through the neck opening 49 and across the inner flat sur-; face 46 inside the hollow body 40. The mouth 53 of the balloon 51 is secured to the inner end 54 of the blow nozzle 50 inside the body. Blow nozzle 50 has a turbine sounding wheel rotatably mounted inside for operation by air from the balloon passing through the blow nozzle as the balloon deflates.

Front and rear axles 55 and 56 are mounted on the body and wheels 57 are mounted on the ends of the axles. A lever 58 has one end 59 pivotally mounted on the front axle 55 inside the body and a free end 60 movably resting on the top of the rear axle 56 when the car is upright. Lever 58 has a balloon neck squeezing weighted portion 61 on the free end 60 disposed for movement toward the Patented Feb. 19, 1957 n r t f ce Q he. t p PQ T iQF} 43 of. hair 40 inside the body on the pivoting of the lever. The balloon neck 52 is squeeze closed between the surface 46 and the e e Por on whe he. ver. s p vet dsbyithu h. or finger pressure.

While I have illustrated and described. the, preferred embodiments of my invention, it,is to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the. invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United. StatesLettersRatent 1. A toy jet. racing vehicle comprising a hollow body having front and rear ends andtop, and side portions and an. innerv flat surface on the top portion adjacent to and spaced from the rear end, said top portion of the body having a balloon neck opening, said rear end having. an opening, a blow nozzle mounted in the opening in the rear end of the body, an inflatable, balloon supported on the body and having an elongated neck extending through the neck opening in the top portion of the body and extending across said inner flat surface on the top portion of the body, and having a mouth secured to the inner end of the blow nozzle for inflating the balloon through said blow nozzle and for deflating said balloon through the blow nozzle, and a free turbine sounding wheel rotatably mounted in the blow nozzle for rotation by air passing through the nozzle to simulate a jet engine sound while the balloon is deflating.

2. A toy jet racing vehicle comprising a hollow, body having front and rear ends and top and side portions and an inner flat surface on the top portion. adjacent to and spaced from the rear end, said top portion of the body having a balloon neck opening, said rear end having an opening, a blow nozzle mounted in the opening in the rear end of the body, an inflatable balloon. supported on the body and having an elongated neck extending through the neck opening in the top portion of the body and extending across said inner flat surface on the top portion of the body, and having a mouth secured to the inner end of the blow nozzle for inflating the balloon through said blow nozzle and for deflating said balloon through the blow nozzle, and a free turbine sounding wheel rotatably mounted in the blow nozzle for rotation by air passing through the nozzle to simulate a jet engine sound while the balloon is deflating, a pair of spaced axles rotatably mounted on the body adjacent the front and rear ends and a pair of wheels mounted on each axle, said body being of lightweight plastic and said nozzle being of plastic material, said body being in the shape of a racing car with a cockpit over said inner flat surface on the top portion of the body adjacent to and spaced from the rear end, and a weighted racing driver mounted in the cockpit over said inner flat surface serving as a reinforcing agent when pressure is applied to the neck of the balloon to prevent escape of air.

3. A toy jet racing vehicle comprising a hollow body having front and rear ends and top and side portions and an inner flat surface on the top portion adjacent to and spaced from the rear end, said top portion of the body having a balloon neck opening, a blow nozzle mounted in the rear end of the body, an inflatable balloon having a neck extending through the neck opening in the top portion of the body and extending across said inner flat surface on the top portion of the body, and having a mouth a ed to. th 19W nsl l for n a n v the bal through said blow nozzle an d for said balloon to deflate through the blow nozzle, a pair of spaced axles mounted on the body adjacent the front and rear ends and spaced free wheels rotatably mounted on the axles, and a lever having one end pivotably mounted on the front axle and a free end movably resting on the top of the rear axle, said lever having a balloon neck squeezing portion on said free end disposed for movement toward said inner flat surface on the top portion of the body on pivoting of the lever.

A 93 jet rac ng ehic e c mpr g a QW. body having front and rear ends and top and side portions and an inner flat surface on the top portion adjacent to and spaced from the rear end, said top portion of the body having a balloon neck opening, a blow nozzle mounted in the rear end of the body, an inflatable balloon having a neck extending through the neck opening in the top portion of the body and extending across said inner flat surface on the top portion of the body, and having a mouth secured to the blow nozzle for inflating the balloon rough said blow nozzle and for said balloonv to deflate through the blow nozzle, and a free turbine sounding wheel rotatably mounted in the blow nozzle for rotation by air passing through the nozzle to simulate a jet engine sound while the balloon is deflating, a pair of spaced axles mounted; on the body adjacent the front and rear ends and spaced free wheels rotatably mounted on the axles, and a lever having one end pivotably mounted on the front axle and a free end movably resting on the top of the rear, axle, said lever having a balloon neck squeezing portion on said free end disposed for movement toward said inner flatsurfaee on the topportion of the body on pivoting of the lever.

5;. A toy jet racing vehicle comprising a hollow body haying front and rear ends and top and side portions and an inner flat surface on the top portion adjacent to andv spaced from the rear end, said top portion of the body having a balloon neck opening, a blow nozzle mounted in the rear. end of the body, an inflatable balloon having a neck extending through the neck opening in the top portion of the body and extending across said inner flat surface on the top portion of the body, and having a mouth secured to the blow nozzle for inflating the balloon through said blow nozzle and for said balloon to deflate through the blow nozzle, and a free turbine sounding wheel rotatably mounted in the blow nozzle for rotation by air passing through the nozzle to simulate a jet engine sound while the balloon is deflating, a pair of spaced axles rotatably mounted on the body adjacent the front and rear ends and a pair of wheels mounted on each axle, said body being of lightweight plastic and said nozzle being of plastic material, and a lever having one end pivotably mounted on the front axle and a free end movably resting on the top of the rear axle, said lever having a balloon neck squeezing portion on said free end disposed for movement toward said inner flat surface on the top portion of the body on pivoting of the lever.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,765,701 Reiss June 24, 1930 2,384,193 Platt Sept. 4, 1945 2,591,376 Recs Apr. 1, 1952 2,677,213 Wechsler May 4, 1954 

